Tolls Hit Family Budgets With Double Whammy, Coalition Says

Tolling interstates to generate revenue for infrastructure funding would hit families with a double whammy by reducing disposable income while increasing retail prices for consumers, according to the Alliance for Toll-Free Interstates (ATFI).

In a recent article “Paying for Highways: No Free Ride,” which appeared in the November 2014 issue of Fleetowner magazine, ATFI said tolls take a huge bite out of family budgets, reducing their disposable income. At the same time, tolls increase commercial shipping costs, leading to higher prices at the register.

“While tolls are an industry issue, they also impact families traveling for vacation, people commuting to work, and millions of drivers accustomed to freely accessing America’s highways,” said ATFI spokesman Julian Walker. “

Walker added that tolls are a regressive tax that are especially harmful to the working poor. Walker said for some people, tolls mean having to work an extra hour each day to afford the toll between home and work. Such conditions stifle economic growth and job creation, he said.

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman

Tiffany Wlazlowski Neuman develops and executes communications strategies to advance NATSO’s public relations and advocacy goals. Tiffany also develops and oversees partnerships related to the NATSO Foundation’s public outreach initiatives. Tiffany lives in the D.C. metro area with her husband and their two sons.More